Recess Beer Garden Opening Soon in Former LoHi Book Bindery

The building at 2715 17th Street in Lower Highland was once a book binding warehouse, but is currently being converted into retail spaces, one of which will soon open as Recess Beer Garden. Owners William Frankland and Owen Olson have been working on the space since late last year and hope to pour their first beers in early July. Recess is located on the same wedge-shaped block as Williams & Graham.

The interior will feature a 38-foot bar with an opening onto the patio, space for 70 guests and a kitchen that will turn out a small menu — 10 to 15 items — that will be in keeping with the beer-garden theme. Outside, big trees will shade the beer garden terraced well above street leve, which will include picnic tables, firepits, greenery and space for outdoor games like shuffleboard and cornhole. Frankland says the back corner of the property will feature a community garden maintained by neighborhood residents.

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Frankland, having worked extensively in home building, is doing much of the work himself (with help from friends and family), but he also has previous experience in restaurant management, most recently at GB's Fish & Chips. Olson's previous restaurant experience includes managing Japon, the former sushi bar on Old South Gaylord. The two have hired a chef

Frankland says that his family is English and that Recess will have more of an English than German beer garden feel, pointing out that there are plenty of new German-style places that have opened recently. Recess will have 24 beers on tap, with many of those from Colorado but also with an international selection.

Hours have yet to be determined, but Frankland says Recess will most likely stay open until 2 a.m. on weekends to take advantage of the neighborhood's active nightlife, with earlier closing time on weekdays. .

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The owners of Recess hope to have the beer flowing by the July Fourth weekend.

Mark Antonation

Mark Antonation is the Westword Food & Drink Editor. He got his start by eating at and writing about every restaurant on Federal Boulevard and continues to cover metro Denver's diverse international food scene, as well as the city's quickly changing restaurant landscape. Mark was awarded Outstanding Media Professional by the Colorado Restaurant Association in 2018.

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